The Cowhorse Competition- Part Two: Fence work

 For those who are not familiar with Reined Cowhorse competitions, here is how the fence work goes. Once the reining pattern is done, the rider calls for the cow, and one cow is released for him to work. The rider must box the cow at one end of the arena, and once that has been done, allow the cow to escape down the side of the arena, where the rider has to turn the cow once in each direction, then circle the cow in the middle of the arena once each way. All in a 2 and a half minute time limit. This is very much part of what a real cowboy has to do, or in my case - cowgirl. I worked on a ranch where part of my job was to separate the calves that needed to be doctored and take them down to the treatment pen- all on horseback. It can get a little western! Getting them to leave the herd and keep them separate while you drive them in the desired direction will test a good cowhorse. 

FYI: Yes, cows can out run a horse- hence why we circle them to get them slowed down.

The Supreme

I had  a wonderful horse filled weekend! Friday, Ted and I hit the road; he dropped me off in Red Deer Alberta so that I could attend the Canadian Cowhorse Supreme, and he continued on to Edmonton to visit with family- so we both got to do what we wanted most- win win! I met up with Crystal and stayed until Sunday afternoon.
Friday night was the horse sale, showcasing horses bred to do the cow events; cutting and working cowhorse, and there were a couple of reining types and some ranch horses to round it off.
I think the averages were up, and it was a good place to sell yearlings: of the 8 yearlings sold, the average was $4,850, with the highest selling yearling bringing $10,000, and the lowest priced yearling was $2100.
Of eleven 2 year olds, the highest seller sold for $11,000 and the lowest for $2100 with an average of $4,564. The colt that sold for $11,000 was one of my favorites- a black rabicano grandson of both High Brow Cat and Smart Little Lena.
I have never seen so many rabicano colored horses in one place- not just in the sale but in the performance pens, they were everywhere!
I spent most of my time with Crystal watching the cutting and working cowhorse classes, but did manage to get over to the reining barn in time to watch three of the championship runs for the classes of that day. One of my favorites of the cutting horses was Cataduala, here is a video of him with his rider Gerry Hansma.

The working cowhorse class is my favorite though; anyone who has ever had to sort a cow out of a herd and take it down a fence or road knows how tough it can be.  This kid won his class Saturday morning:

Here is a smokin' run by Dale Clearwater:

And, just one more.... gotta get an Appaloosa in there for Sherry, these High Sign Nugget colts now have their daddy in the Canadian Supreme hall of fame.